Post by Helen on May 30, 2005 13:13:36 GMT
RONAN KEATING'S OWN DIARY OF HIS CANCER CHARITY WALK
Belfast Telegraph 24th May 2005
By Tina Calder
IRISH Pop star Ronan Keating reached the end of the Northern Ireland leg of his gruelling 420 mile walk of Ireland yesterday. And as he reached the border between Newry and Dundalk, the singer said, "When I decided to do the walk down Ireland for the Marie Keating Foundation, I wanted it to be something big to make it worthwhile. With me, I don't really do things by halves, that's my nature, which is why I take on these huge challenges. If I can save just one life by creating awareness on this journey then it will all have been worthwhile." The Belfast Telegraph was with Ronan every step of the way and here's the singers personal diary of the first six days of his journey.
DAY 1
BUSHMILLS AND GIANTS CAUSEWAY
This is our first day and it's very exciting; its a great setting for the start. We're relaxed and prepared at the Bushmills Inn and the sun is shining. Yvonne and the kids are here with me, its become a real family event with my brothers and sister here too. The same crowd and more are coming out to walk with us and donate - its great to see so many people supporting the cause.
BALLMONEY
It was fantastic to finally reach a town where there was a great buzz for us. This gave us all such a huge lift.
DAY 2
BALLYMENA
This is our first big town. There are no major injuries just yet and the sun is still shining. It's very different from the 2003 walk as it rained the whole of the first week. There has been a much bigger response for us this year and there are people everywhere. I'm still coming across the same problems physically, even though I had them the last time. I'm still getting blisters, still getting shin splints. One of the guys on the road with us - Alex, God love him - when he arrived in Ballymena called the hospital to see if they would lance the blisters and they said no, so he had to do it himself. He's gone through a lot of pain. I met a little girl who was diagnosed with cancer but she is fighting it and getting through it which was amazing. She was so inspiring.
DAY 3
ANTRIM
It was just too good to be true. The rain started early and did not stop at all. This was when we got the news about Kylie. We were shocked about such a young woman getting cancer - it was a major wake up call to us all. We need to be more aware of all forms of cancer at all ages.
BELFAST
I guess we got it in our mind that reaching Belfast was going to be a huge milestone. The streets are lined with people and the rain was still beating down but it did not dampen any of our spirits. I think we've broken the back of the walk now that we're three days into it, and being in Belfast from the Giant's Causeway mentally is a big step. Coming into Belfast was wet and miserable. The sun shone on us the first two days and it was beautiful, but then suddenly from the moment we got up from the moment we walked into the Europa hotel it lashed - there was no letting up. There's quite a lonely road between Nutt's Corner and just as you come over the Cave Hill. It's a narrow road, the wind and rain were coming across you and no one was talking. Those roads are the hardest especially if your feeling an injury.
DAY 5
BELFAST
Everybody's feeling really good - we've had a day off and are very chilled, our muscles have relaxed. Last time the physio said we pushed ourselves too hard all at once and has insisted on a 24 hour rest every 3 or 4 days. Getting a day off has been great. I was able to get home and recharge the batteries this week. I went to see Star Wars with the kids and that was a lot of fun. At the moment everyone's feeling really good, the atmosphere's great on the road and we're raising a lot of money. Children are the hardest to meet and I meet them all the way along the walk. Yesterday I met a wee girl here in the Europa Hotel - Laura was her name. She was diagnosed with cancer and she's had a bone removed in the arm and leg. It's heartbreaking to hear these stories.
LISBURN
Again a great buzz, I met a young girl today who has just gone through therapy for cancer. She's only 15 years old. Its so unfair. That's why we're walking. We hope things will change - please God. There are times when the rain is coming down and every mile is getting monotonous. There's no houses and no people - but then you come into towns and it's just an amazing feeling. Here you are walking the whole length of the country and people are coming out to see you. Sometimes I sit down and think to myself 'Am I crazy, what am I doing walking the length of Ireland?' but theres an incredible buzz. I'm not doing this walk for anyone other than those who have been affected by cancer. I'm doing it for awareness of cancer and how important it is to be aware.
HILLSBOROUGH
I love this town. The last time we were here we went to the Plough restaurant after a full day of walking. They gave us all the food for free, which was a lovely gesture, and the staff gave us their tips for the night. We will never forget that - what a beautiful town. On the last walk there was a man who came out just past Hillsborough. I remember him because he was in a blue fishermans outfit, the heavy wet gear, and he just walked about ten yards behind us. He didn't speak to anyone; he just walked. At one stage, Barry, one of the lads, went back to see how he was and say 'Hiya are you all right?' and the man just said 'Yeah I dont want to bother you. My daughter was just diagnosed with cancer and I'm just doing my bit. I don't want to hassle you or anything.' We brought him up to the front and gave him some water off the truck. It would break your heart to hear some peoples stories, but I feel privledged that he wanted to share it.
DROMORE
The streets are lined with people; even the school came out to see us. We had some lovely desserts from Cottage Catering - what a nice treat.
DAY 6
BANBRIDGE
The sun was shining and I think we started a little too early because it seemed that most people were still in bed. Not to worry. I remember when I was on the walk last time and this man drove up beside me and rolled down the window. He looked like he'd just got out of bed because he had his pyjamas still on and he shouts out the window, 'Ronan, I just heard you were coming through the town and I jumped out of my bed. I wanted to just come and say thank you for everything you've done. You've kept me going and I only have a few months left to live.' At that point I noticed he was a really young guy wearing a wig. I just got this lump in my throat and thought: 'This is why I'm doing this.' That mans story was one of the greatest of the last walk and one of the most emotional for me. I really hope he's still alive. It would be so great if he was still around because last time he told me he'd just 3 weeks to live. It is heartbreaking to put yourself into a situation were you will encounter so many people who will bring back so many personal memories. I pray to God each day that they will be ok. But I know that some won't and it hurts.
NEWRY
This is were we reached our 100th mile - a third of the way into our journey. We reach the border tomorrow. Northern Ireland is beautiful, the people, the scenery and the generosity is amazing. We've a big challenge ahead with two thirds of the journey left, but we're all feeling positive.
The hardest thing about doing this a second time is to know whats coming, to know what its like to have those shin splints, to have your leg in a bucket of ice for 20 minutes until it goes numb, to take it out and walk until you feel it again. But to be part of the walk again, to be part of the atmosphere - we did look forward to it. To know that I might save lives as a result of creating this awareness is so satisfying, because of my mam dying 7 years ago of breat cancer. If she had known as much as we do now, she would probably still have been here today. Thanks everyone for your generosity, it's really overwhelming and no doubt we'll see you again in
2007!
Belfast Telegraph 24th May 2005
By Tina Calder
IRISH Pop star Ronan Keating reached the end of the Northern Ireland leg of his gruelling 420 mile walk of Ireland yesterday. And as he reached the border between Newry and Dundalk, the singer said, "When I decided to do the walk down Ireland for the Marie Keating Foundation, I wanted it to be something big to make it worthwhile. With me, I don't really do things by halves, that's my nature, which is why I take on these huge challenges. If I can save just one life by creating awareness on this journey then it will all have been worthwhile." The Belfast Telegraph was with Ronan every step of the way and here's the singers personal diary of the first six days of his journey.
DAY 1
BUSHMILLS AND GIANTS CAUSEWAY
This is our first day and it's very exciting; its a great setting for the start. We're relaxed and prepared at the Bushmills Inn and the sun is shining. Yvonne and the kids are here with me, its become a real family event with my brothers and sister here too. The same crowd and more are coming out to walk with us and donate - its great to see so many people supporting the cause.
BALLMONEY
It was fantastic to finally reach a town where there was a great buzz for us. This gave us all such a huge lift.
DAY 2
BALLYMENA
This is our first big town. There are no major injuries just yet and the sun is still shining. It's very different from the 2003 walk as it rained the whole of the first week. There has been a much bigger response for us this year and there are people everywhere. I'm still coming across the same problems physically, even though I had them the last time. I'm still getting blisters, still getting shin splints. One of the guys on the road with us - Alex, God love him - when he arrived in Ballymena called the hospital to see if they would lance the blisters and they said no, so he had to do it himself. He's gone through a lot of pain. I met a little girl who was diagnosed with cancer but she is fighting it and getting through it which was amazing. She was so inspiring.
DAY 3
ANTRIM
It was just too good to be true. The rain started early and did not stop at all. This was when we got the news about Kylie. We were shocked about such a young woman getting cancer - it was a major wake up call to us all. We need to be more aware of all forms of cancer at all ages.
BELFAST
I guess we got it in our mind that reaching Belfast was going to be a huge milestone. The streets are lined with people and the rain was still beating down but it did not dampen any of our spirits. I think we've broken the back of the walk now that we're three days into it, and being in Belfast from the Giant's Causeway mentally is a big step. Coming into Belfast was wet and miserable. The sun shone on us the first two days and it was beautiful, but then suddenly from the moment we got up from the moment we walked into the Europa hotel it lashed - there was no letting up. There's quite a lonely road between Nutt's Corner and just as you come over the Cave Hill. It's a narrow road, the wind and rain were coming across you and no one was talking. Those roads are the hardest especially if your feeling an injury.
DAY 5
BELFAST
Everybody's feeling really good - we've had a day off and are very chilled, our muscles have relaxed. Last time the physio said we pushed ourselves too hard all at once and has insisted on a 24 hour rest every 3 or 4 days. Getting a day off has been great. I was able to get home and recharge the batteries this week. I went to see Star Wars with the kids and that was a lot of fun. At the moment everyone's feeling really good, the atmosphere's great on the road and we're raising a lot of money. Children are the hardest to meet and I meet them all the way along the walk. Yesterday I met a wee girl here in the Europa Hotel - Laura was her name. She was diagnosed with cancer and she's had a bone removed in the arm and leg. It's heartbreaking to hear these stories.
LISBURN
Again a great buzz, I met a young girl today who has just gone through therapy for cancer. She's only 15 years old. Its so unfair. That's why we're walking. We hope things will change - please God. There are times when the rain is coming down and every mile is getting monotonous. There's no houses and no people - but then you come into towns and it's just an amazing feeling. Here you are walking the whole length of the country and people are coming out to see you. Sometimes I sit down and think to myself 'Am I crazy, what am I doing walking the length of Ireland?' but theres an incredible buzz. I'm not doing this walk for anyone other than those who have been affected by cancer. I'm doing it for awareness of cancer and how important it is to be aware.
HILLSBOROUGH
I love this town. The last time we were here we went to the Plough restaurant after a full day of walking. They gave us all the food for free, which was a lovely gesture, and the staff gave us their tips for the night. We will never forget that - what a beautiful town. On the last walk there was a man who came out just past Hillsborough. I remember him because he was in a blue fishermans outfit, the heavy wet gear, and he just walked about ten yards behind us. He didn't speak to anyone; he just walked. At one stage, Barry, one of the lads, went back to see how he was and say 'Hiya are you all right?' and the man just said 'Yeah I dont want to bother you. My daughter was just diagnosed with cancer and I'm just doing my bit. I don't want to hassle you or anything.' We brought him up to the front and gave him some water off the truck. It would break your heart to hear some peoples stories, but I feel privledged that he wanted to share it.
DROMORE
The streets are lined with people; even the school came out to see us. We had some lovely desserts from Cottage Catering - what a nice treat.
DAY 6
BANBRIDGE
The sun was shining and I think we started a little too early because it seemed that most people were still in bed. Not to worry. I remember when I was on the walk last time and this man drove up beside me and rolled down the window. He looked like he'd just got out of bed because he had his pyjamas still on and he shouts out the window, 'Ronan, I just heard you were coming through the town and I jumped out of my bed. I wanted to just come and say thank you for everything you've done. You've kept me going and I only have a few months left to live.' At that point I noticed he was a really young guy wearing a wig. I just got this lump in my throat and thought: 'This is why I'm doing this.' That mans story was one of the greatest of the last walk and one of the most emotional for me. I really hope he's still alive. It would be so great if he was still around because last time he told me he'd just 3 weeks to live. It is heartbreaking to put yourself into a situation were you will encounter so many people who will bring back so many personal memories. I pray to God each day that they will be ok. But I know that some won't and it hurts.
NEWRY
This is were we reached our 100th mile - a third of the way into our journey. We reach the border tomorrow. Northern Ireland is beautiful, the people, the scenery and the generosity is amazing. We've a big challenge ahead with two thirds of the journey left, but we're all feeling positive.
The hardest thing about doing this a second time is to know whats coming, to know what its like to have those shin splints, to have your leg in a bucket of ice for 20 minutes until it goes numb, to take it out and walk until you feel it again. But to be part of the walk again, to be part of the atmosphere - we did look forward to it. To know that I might save lives as a result of creating this awareness is so satisfying, because of my mam dying 7 years ago of breat cancer. If she had known as much as we do now, she would probably still have been here today. Thanks everyone for your generosity, it's really overwhelming and no doubt we'll see you again in
2007!
